Drain assembly having a removable drain plate

ABSTRACT

A drain assembly having a removable plate and smooth outlet for a pressure fit coupling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to drain assemblies, specificallyto such drains which are used to control the flow of water out of asink, shower, bath tub or the like.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] A typical prior art drain assembly is shown in the series ofphotographs and captions labeled FIGS. 4(a)-(e). Such a drain hasnumerous disadvantages. For example, because the plate (FIG. 4(c)) atthe bottom of the drain is fixed and not removable, the plate inhibitsthe insertion of a snake, pressure hose or the like for cleaning of thepiping below the drain. This often necessitates removal of the entiredrain to order to insert the snake. Another disadvantage exists in thatthe bottom portion of the drain is threaded (FIG. 4(c)). Consequently,connecting or disconnecting the drain to a tailpiece or drain outlet iscomplicated and requires the multiple connectors and special tools shownin FIGS. 4 (a) and (b) Unfortunately, the time and labor requirementsnecessary to maintain a system including drains of this type hasresulted in increased repair costs and inconvenience.

[0005] Certain other types of prior constructions have been tried, butall of such constructions have at least one of the inherentdisadvantages common to those above denoted. For example, U.S. Pat. No.4,232,407 is a basket strainer that is held in a closed position byforced fit of a stem into a hole in the center of the drain plate.However, because the drain plate is fixed, a snake cannot be passedthrough this type of drain. As another example of prior art, U.S. Pat.No. 5,003,642 is a foreign matter trap for use in a sink or showerdrain. The shower drain embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 includes aremovable cruciform member. However it is not fixedly secured in thedrain, whilst being removable nor is it recessed from the drain opening.Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,168 is a sink drain assembly where, byinversion, the waste plug can be used as a tool for the removal of thesink seal cap. The waste plug tool fits into the sink seal cap forremoval and/or the placement thereon. However, this drain is exteriorlythreaded and is therefore not easily connected to a drain outlet.

[0006] None of the above patents disclose a drain that allows theinsertion of a snake, pressure hose or the like for the cleaning of thepipes below the drain, whilst also allowing uncomplicated connection ofthe drain to an outlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a drain assemblycomprises a drain plate removably mounted in a drain body. Removal ofthe drain plate allows the insertion of a snake, pressure hose or thelike for the cleaning of the drain pipes below the drain. Further, thedrain body is exteriorly smooth to allow the connection of a pressurefit pipe coupling. Several other related objects and advantages of thepresent invention are as follows.

[0008] It is a general object of the present invention to provide adrain which substantially eliminates those disadvantages inherent in theboth the construction and use of prior known apparatus.

[0009] Another object of the present invention lies in the provision ofa drain which facilitates the easy maintenance and repair of theassociated drain system.

[0010] Still another object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a drain which eliminates the necessity of removing thedrain in order to clear the drain system when it becomes clogged.

[0011] Still a further object is to provide a drain which is exteriorlysmooth to permit quick and easy connection and disconnection to thedrain outlet without the use of threads and their attendantdisadvantages.

[0012] Still another important object of the present invention is toprovide a drain which is of substantially simple and inexpensive designand manufacturer and which is highly efficient and easily operable foruse in a variety of drainage systems.

[0013] These and other objects are accomplished by the parts,construction, arrangement and combination comprising the presentinvention, the nature of which is set forth in the following generalstatement and preferred embodiment of which are set forth in thefollowing description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andwhich are particularly and distinctly pointed out set forth in theappended claims forming a part hereof.

[0014] The present invention will now be described in more completedetail, with reference being made to the figures identified below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIGS. 1(a)-(c) are side, top, and bottom views of the inventivedrain with the plate mounted in the body;

[0016] FIGS. 2(a)-(c) are side, top, and bottom views of the body,without the plate mounted;

[0017] FIGS. 3(a)-(c) are side, top, and bottom views of the plate, notmounted in the body; and

[0018] FIGS. 4(a)-(e) are photographs of a typical prior art drainassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the drain 1 of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1(a)-(c) (plate in body), FIGS. 2(a)-(c) (bodyalone), and FIGS. 3(a)-(c) (plate alone).

[0020] The drain 1 has two main elements: a body 2 of cylindrical crosssection; and a cylindrical plate 3. FIGS. 1(a)-1(c) are side, top, andbottom views of the drain 1 with the plate 3 mounted in the body 2. Inthe preferred embodiment, the body 2 and plate 3 are both of a rigidmetal, such as stainless steel. However, the body 2 and plate 3 canconsist of other material suited for the purpose.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1(a)-1(c) and 2(a)-(c), the body 2 has anannular top surface 4. Depending from this surface 4 is an annular wall5. The lower part of the wall 6 is exteriorly smooth. The advantages ofthe smooth exterior are to allow pressure fit coupling to allow for easyfittings and coupling of different size pipes. At the interior of thewall 5 and recessed from the top surface 4 is an annular flange 7. Theflange 7 includes two diametrically opposed cutouts 8. At the undersideof the flange 7 are formed two raised portions 9.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1(a)-1(c) and 3(a)-3(c), the plate 3 has a topsurface 10. This surface 10 includes an annular flange 11. Surface 9further has a cross-shaped portion 12. This cross-shaped portion 12defines four openings 13 in the plate surface 10. Depending from surface10 is a annular wall 14. At the bottom of this wall 14 are twodiametrically opposed outwardly extending tabs 15.

[0023] One mounts the plate 3 in the body 2 by hand without tools asfollows. Referring to FIGS. 1(a)-1(c), one first positions the plate 3in the body 2 so that the plate tabs 15 are aligned with the bodycutouts 8. Next, one lowers the plate 3 so that the tabs 15 pass throughthe cutouts 8, and the plate flange 11 comes to bear upon the bodyflange 7. The plate tabs 15 are now positioned at the underside of bodyflange 7 and are still aligned with the cutouts 8. One next rotates theplate 3 counterclockwise, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1(b) . In thisway, the plate tabs 15 are caused to rotate arcuately along theunderside of the body flange 7, until further rotation is prevented whenthe tabs 15 engage raised portions 9, as shown in FIG. 1(c). Axialmovement of the plate is prevented since the tabs 15 are no longeraligned with the cutouts 8. The plate 3 is now securely mounted in thebody 2 and will not be accidentally dislodged.

[0024] The plate 3 is removable from the body 2 by reversing the abovesteps. Namely, one first rotates the plate 3 clockwise until the tabs 2engage raised portions 9 and are thus re-aligned with cutouts 8.Consequently, the plate 3 easily lifts out of the body 2.

[0025] Accordingly, an inventive drain 1 is provided which hasinherently all those attributes, objects and advantages set forth above,and which provides an extremely new and useful article of manufacture ofa type and function unique in the light of prior constructions.

[0026] In the foregoing description of the drain 1, certain terms havebeen used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessarylimitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of theprior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes hereinand are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiment ofthe improved drain construction illustrated and described herein are byway of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to theexact details of construction.

[0027] Having now described the inventive drain 1, the construction, theoperation and use of the preferred embodiment thereof, and the new anduseful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, andreasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled inthe art, are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved drain including a body attachable toa drain outlet and mountable in a drain opening, the improvementcomprising a removable plate mounted in the body so that removing theplate allows a device to be passed through said body.
 2. The drain ofclaim 1 wherein the body has an interior surface and an exteriorsurface, and the exterior surface is smooth so as to improve attachmentof the body to the drain outlet.
 3. The drain of claim 2 wherein thebody is attached to said drain outlet by a threadless connector.
 4. Thedrain of claim 3 wherein the threadless connector is a pressure fitcoupling.
 5. The drain of claim 1 wherein the device is from the groupconsisting essentially of a snake and a pressure hose.
 6. The drain ofclaim 1 wherein the body and the plate have cooperating means to mountthe plate in the body.
 7. The drain of claim 6 wherein the cooperatingmeans comprise a plurality of tabs formed on the plate which cooperatewith a flange and cutout arrangement formed on an interior surface ofthe body.
 9. The drain of claim 1 wherein the body and plate are of acylindrical shape.
 10. The drain of claim 1 wherein the body and plateare comprised of stainless steel.
 11. The drain of claim 1 wherein theplate is recessed from the drain opening.
 12. The drain of claim 1wherein the plate is cross-member shaped.
 13. An improved drainincluding a body attachable to a drain outlet and mountable in a drainopening, and a plate removably mounted in said body, said body havinginterior and exterior surfaces, and said exterior surface being smoothso as to allow connection of a pressure fit coupling.
 14. The drain ofclaim 13 wherein removing the plate allows a device is be passed throughsaid body.
 15. The drain of claim 14 wherein the device is from thegroup consisting essentially of a snake and a pressure hose.
 16. Thedrain of claim 13 wherein the body is attached to said drain outlet by anon-threaded connector.
 17. The drain of claim 16 wherein the threadlessconnector is a pressure fit coupling.
 18. The drain of claim 13 whereinthe body and plate are comprised of stainless steel.
 19. The drain ofclaim 13 wherein the plate is recessed from the drain opening.
 20. Thedrain of claim 13 wherein the plate is cross-member shaped.